Combined recording and reproducing device



Sept. 20, 1949. w. K. Ril-:BER

COMBINED RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1945 WWII/WM Mmm WN WN xa Sept. 20, 1949. w. K, RIEBER 2,482,212

COMBINED RECORDING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 10a a 306 E51: 1 24 l 255 3/0, 316 l /V 42 L 26d 29 J4 o l l If-Z l.

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Patented Sept. 20, 1949 COMBINED RECORDING AN'D REif'Ito- DUCING DEVICE William' K.' Richer, Los Angeles, Calif.l

Application Deeember 22, 1945, serrer No. 636,871

6 Claims.y

My invention relates generally to apparatus for producing, and/cr transcribing from', sound record's; and more particularly to devices of this class wherein the same' mechanism is to bese'- lectively employed for either purpose.

In phonographic devices of the class described the' sound record is` frequently produced by embossing or engraving an undulating groove in a moving'record medium'. The record medium may take the shape' of a cylinder or loop, in which case the groove Ais/ produced in a helical path in the surface thereof ;.or the shape of the record may be that of .a flat disc, in which case the sound groove" follows a spiral path.A The sound producingI undul'ation's in the groove are produced by Vforrnin'g it with a vibrating stylus, and the 'sound record' is subsequently reproduced by trackingl the groove with a stylus carried in a' transducer or tone-head responsive toV mechanical vibrations thereof produced by the undulations of the groove'.

It is'well known in the a'rt that many transducer means are reversible; that is, capable 'of converting electricatpulsations into mechanical vibra'-A tions or, viee versa', converting mechanical vibrations into electrical pulsations. Reversible devices of' this nature, however, do not secure optimum eicien'c'y .of energy transfer if they are adapted for both purposes, the' most eflicient transducers being those that are designed specilically' for only one" of the aboveemention'ed functions;y i. e., recording or transcribing. Transducers'a'dapted for'recording will sometimes be referred to herein'a's' electro-mechanical transduc/ers and those adapted for transcription as mechanico-fel'ectrical transducers or tone-heads;

VIn recording devices employing either a cylinder or disc type 'record the helical or spiral path is produced by a combination of rotary motion of the record and relative rectilinear motion of the stylus withrespect to the record.

It isdesirable for several reasons toproduce the record groove by a process of embossing; that is, one in which nol material isV removed by the stylus but wherein the' groove is pressed into the recording medium. One of the principaly advan-j tages of this method of producing' the sound groove is'that no shavings areY produced thereby; Another advantage of embossing is that the' qual; ity of recorded sound is less apt to be'inuen'ced bythe pressure with which the' stylus `is engaged with' theire'cord than is the'c'ase'with engraving. Due" to thev shallowness ofthe groove `produced by embossing', however, itis necessary when tran# sribingfrecords produced by thisrn'ethod tov pro-y (Cl. 17g-10041) vide' auxiliary translating means for the tran'- scrbig tone-head'-(transducer) and Stylus car"- ried thereby, thev shallowness of the grloovebe-ng such that insufficient lateral thrust isv developed to move the transcribing-stylus across lthe record in the manner-'of tone'a-rrrison conventional disc phonographs.

A! major object .of the present invention is to provide' mounting means suitable for use in recording-transcribing equipment of the class described, for carrying two transducers, one adapted for efficient opera-tion in recording and one adapted vfor such operationA in transcribing, the mounting being such that the two transducers may' be selectively positioned to 'engage a moving record for the purpose oiv either recording or transcribing a sound record.-

Itis-another"ob`ject of the invention to provide a mounting means as described above which is adaptedV to be moved in translation across a movingv recordeitlir to' produce or track a spiral or helical groove therein.

It isa common practice in recording-transcribing machines employing electronic amplifying means, to use the saine amplier for both function-sl, the' amplier being connected to amplify the eleetrica-l out-'put of a microphone or similar* sound pick-up' and to deliver such amplined utlput'te a' recording transducer; or during transcription, being connected to amplify the* electrical .out-put of a transcribing tone-head and deliver power to ear-phones, a loud speaker or the like. A lt is an additional object of my invention, therefore,- to provide an amplifier 's'\'vitehingvi rneans for' the above-stated purpose which is cc'iordi-riated'- with operation of the transducer mounting means whereby the selective positioning f the desired transducer automatically` eif'ets thedesir'ed connections to and from the amplifier.

It is-lafstill further object and advantage of my invention to provide selective transducer mounting means having no reciprocating or sliding parts therein' and Where all mechanical parts are of'a rotating nature and' hence economical to manufacture and easy' to service.

ltis'anadditional object of my invention to provide in the mounting means for the transcribing tone=head a small amount of horizontal and vertical eniency to thereby enable proper tracking of the sound groove regardless of minor deviations thereof," varying thicknesses of record material, and/or varying lengths of transcribing styli.

Still another objectv of my invention is to proo vide transducer mounting means adapted to mount commercially available transducers of conventional designY and wherein said transducers may be readily replaced.

While the stated objects and advantages are achieved by use of my invention in many types of process in order to maintain the linear velocity' of the groove past the stylus constant through-` out the record. In the particular apparatus embodying the presently illustrated version of my invention, the turn-table is rotatably mounted in a` carriage which in turn is adapted to move in translation. A lead screw and lead nut are geared to the turn-table spindle in a manner whereby rotation of the turntable effects simultaneous trans-` lation thereof. Such an arrangement is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 603,961,

led July 9, 1945, and entitled Sound translating device.

Briey described, the mounting constructed according to my invention takes the form of a turret rotatable through 180, two transducers being mounted therein one above the other in such manner that the 180 rotation above-mentioned brings the desired stylus into proper position to engage the moving record. A cam is provided on a supporting shaft of the turret which serves to ji" operate, through suitable linkage, an amplifier change-over switch.

For a more complete and detailed description of one embodiment of my invention, reference should now be had to the attached drawings, in which: 1H.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, sectioned, front eleva` tional view taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, sectioned, side elevational view taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 5 and with the transducer in position for recording;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan View similar to Fig. 6

but with the device in position for transcribing;

Fig. 8 is a partially sectioned front elevational View taken on the line 8 8 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 9 is a partially sectioned front elevational I view taken on the line 9 9 in Fig. 6. l

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral III indicates generally a turret, adapted to receive and mount for pivotal motion therein, a pair of transducers, one for recording and one for transcribing. The turret I8 comprises an open box shaped frame Ia, a rearwardly projecting hollow hub I i mounted to the rear wall of the frame and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the turret, and a pair of mounting plates 22 and 23V held in the open faces of the box frame Illa.A The hub I I is adapted to rotatably support the turret I0 in a journal bearing 54a and has formed in the bearing surface an eccentric cam surface I2 with two diametrcally opposed detent holes I3a and I3b. The journal bearing I4a. is formed in the end of a pivot shaft I4 which is, in turn, journally supported to permit vertical swinging motion of the Y turret frame I0, in an upwardly projecting pillow block I5 xedly mounted to a suitable portion of the recording apparatus, as for example the chassis Vportion I6 indicated in Figs. -2 and 4. Thus the turret I0 is adaptedforv two modes of motion; rotation about its own axis and vertical swinging motion about the axis of the shaft I4. rEhe pivot shaft I4 has a concentric hole therethrough carrying therein a cam operated plunger l1 which is thrust against the cam surface I2 by a compression spring i8 anchored at one endv against an enlarged portion of plunger Ila and reacting against a threaded plug I9 screwed into an enlarged internally threaded portion of the hole through pivot shaftl 4. The detent holes I3a. and i319 in the cam surface I2 are selectively engaged by plunger ii' thus providing two indexed positions of the hub II and hence the turret I0 carried thereby. The plunger serves an additional purpose of operatingan amplifier change-over Yswitch 2t through the action of the camy i2.

Thus it will be seen that with the turret I0 in Y the recording position, as best seen in Fig. 4, the plunger is in its retracted position, thus allowing the movable center blade` 20a of the change-over switch 20 to close against Ythe lefthand stationary blade VZilbas best seen in Figs. 2 and 4. When the turret l0 .is manually rotated to a position diametrically opposite that shown in Fig. 4 the plunger Il is then extended, forcing the movable blade 20a of theswitch 20 against the right-hand stationary blade 20c, a position shown byphantom lines in Fig. 4. Suitable electrical connections are made to the blades of switch 20 through leads 2 Ia and 2 Ib to effect the required changes in an amplier, suitable relay means being interposed if necessary. The method of making such ampliiier connections is well known in the art and hence is not shown herein.

The two mounting plates 22 and 23 carry the recording transducer 24 and tone-head 25 respectively, and are each held in the turret'frame I0 by two screws 26a and 26h. The recording transducer 24 is mounted to the lower mounting plate 22 in the position shown in Fig. 5, a suitable hinge pin yI4 being provided at its rearward end to permit vertical swinging motion of the trans-f ducer within the turret I0 and above a moving record 28. An embossing stylus 29 is carried by the recording transducer24 and projects downwardly through a suitable aperture in the plate 22 into position to engage the record 28. Vertical swinging motion ofthe transducer about the pin I4 adapts it and the stylus 29 to followlany irregularities in record thickness and provides latitude for suchvarious lengths of embossing stylus 29 as may be used. Suitable weights 30a and 30h are mounted in spaced relationship on the recording transducer 24 whereby to effect pressure engagement of the recording stylus 29 andrecord embodiment of myinvention, and that Ido not mean to limit myself to the details of construction or-design hereinshown, other than as defined in the appended claims. Y islam: Y i,

1. .In photographic apparatus of the class described forvkselectively producing or transcribing sound records including a moving, sound-vreceiving record and an amplifier, switching means and selective transducer means comprising, inV

combination: an electro-mechanical transducer, responsive toV said amplier and having recording stylus means therein; Va mechanico-electrical transducer having transcribing stylus therein responsive to said record; a rotatable turret mounting said transducer for independent swinging motion with respect thereto; indexing means to lock said turret in either of two rotational positions whereby-,said transducers are selectively positioned to engage by said swinging motion thereof, said record; limiting means mounted in said turret and operatively associated with said mechanico-electrical transducer whereby to limit swinging motion ofthe same, said limiting means being further'adapted by a V-shaped portion therein to engage and hold said mechanicoelectrical transducer in a horizontally centralized position when the sameis out of engagement with said record; and switching means mechanically connected to be operated by rotation of said turret and electrically connected between said transducers and amplier to selectively effect operative connection of said amplier with such transducer as ispositioned to engage said record.

2. In apparatus for selectively producing or transcribing sound records, the combination of: a record carrying turn-table mounted for simultaneous rotation and translation in a horizontal plane; a disc shaped sound receiving record carried by said turn-table for rotation therewith; a drive wheel mounted for rotation in a relatively xed location and frictionally engaged with a surface of said turn-table whereby to effect rotation thereof; lead means operatively connected to said turn-table whereby rotation thereof effects simultaneous translation thereof relative to said drive wheel; an electro-mechanical transducer responsive to electrical pulsations and having recording stylus means therein; a mechanicoelectrical transducer having transcribing stylus means therein responsive tovsaid record whereby to produce electrical pulsations; mounting means rotatably mounted abovesaid record adapted to pivotally mount said transducers for swinging motion therein; indexing means for said mounting means whereby to selectively position'either of said transducers to operatively engage by Vsaid swinging motion thereofsaid record at a point` immediately adjacent said drive wheeliamplien means adapted to selectively provide electrical; pulsations forsaid electro-mechanical transducerorto be responsive to electrical pulsations produced by said mechanico-'electricaltransducer; and switch means operatively associated with said rotatable mounting means and electrically connected between said transducer and amplifier whereby to selectively effect connection of said amplifier either to said electro-mechanical transducer or to said mechanica-electrical transducer.

3. In photographic apparatus for selectively producing or transcribing'sound records, selective transducermeans comprising, in combination: an electro-mechanicaltransducer; a mechanico-electrical transducer.; rotatable mounting means to mount said transducers; horizontal 'pivot means between said electro-mechanical transducer and said mounting means adapted to "permit vertical swinging Vof said kelectro-mechani- Iico-electrical transducer is not operatively engaged with a record; and ,means to selectively position said transducers for operative engagement with a record. Y v y fl. In phonographic apparatus of the class described for selectively producing or transcribing sound records including a moving, sound-receiv- `ing record and an amplifier, switching means, and

selective transducer means comprising, in combination; any electro-mechanical transducer, responsive to said amplifier and having recording stylus means therein; a mechanico-electrical transducer having transcribing stylus means therein responsive to said record; rotatableturret means mounting said transducers for independent swinging motion, said turret means being further adapted to constrain said swinging motion of said electro-mechanical transducer to a vertical direction and to constrain said swinging motion of said mechanico-electrical transducer to a vertical and lateral direction; indexing means to lock said turret means in either of two rotational positions whereby said transducers are selectively positioned to engage by said swinging motion thereof, said record; centering means for said mechanico-electrical transducer adapted to center the same within said lateral swinging Y motion thereof when disengaged from said record; and switching means responsive torotation of said turret means whereby to selectively effect operative connection of said amplifier with such transducer as ispositioned to'engage said record.

Y5. In phonographic apparatus for selectively producing or transcribing sound records, selective transducer means comprisingl in combination: an electro-mechanical transducer; a mechanico-electrical transducer; a record engaging stylus in each of said transducers; rotatable mounting means to mount said transducers; horizontally aligned pivot means connected between Said electro-mechanical transducer and said mounting means to support said electro-mechanical transducer for vertical swinging movement thereof with respect to said mounting means; vertically and horizontally aligned pivotmeans conne-cted between said m'echanico-eletrical transducer and said mounting means toi support said mechanico-electrical transducer for both vertical and lateral swinging movement with respect to said mounting means; a centering member fixed in said mounting means and adapted to engage and.A center said mechanico-electrical transducer between the limits ofl said lateral movement thereoffwhen said mechanico-electrical transducer is not operatively engaged with a record; and auniversal support for said mounting means, said universal support including a first bearing aligned to permit rotation'of said mounting means selectively tooperatively position one or the other of said transducers withy the stylus thereof extending downwardly, and va second bearingaligned tofpermiti vertical movement of said mounting means to selectively lower or raise the then operatively positioned transducer into or out of record engaging position.

6. In phonographic apparatus of the class described for selectively producing or transcribing sound records including a moving sound receiving record and amplifier, switching and selective transducer means comprising in combination: an electro-mechanical transducer electrically connectable to said amplier and having a recording stylus therein; a mechanico-electrical transducer having a transcribing stylus therein engageable with said record; a rotatable turret mounting said transducers for independent swinging motion therein, said turret being further adapted by aligned pivot bearings therein to constrain said swinging motion of said electro-mechanical transducer to a vertical direction and by a Cardan support to constrain said swinging motion of said mechanico-electrical transducer to a vertical and lateral direction; indexing means to lock said turret in either of two rotational positions whereby said transducers are selectively positioned to engage a record therebeneath when said turret is lowered; means including a support bearing to raise and lower said turret; a centering member xed in said turret at a point spaced from said Cardan support, said centering member being positioned and adapted to engage said mechanico-electrical transducer when said turret is lifted, and move said transcribing stylus to a horizontally centralized position; and switching means including an electrical circuit having a switch therein operatively associated with, and actuated by rotation of said turret whereby to selectively eiect operative electrical connection of said circuit with such transducer as is then positioned to engage said record.

WILLIAM K. RIEBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,607,004 Kramer Nov. 16, 1926 1,822,932 Loughridge Sept. 15, 1931 2,087,135 Wielage July 13, 1937 2,295,712 Brown Sept. 15, 1942 

